Editorial: Bellin Run has built a great tradition

Jun. 6, 2013

2013 Bellin Run

As of Thursday morning, 18,851 participants had signed up for this year’s run. That breaks the record of 18,701 set in 2011. Randy Van Straten, executive race director, said this is the first time a record was set before the Friday registration push. Today

Watch live

Watch today’s news conference with organizers of the Bellin Run live at greenbaypressgazette.com. Executive Race Director Randy Van Straten and Race Director Dave McGillivray, who also is the Boston Marathon race director, will discuss changes in place following the Boston Marathon bombing. Also, watch the race Saturday morning at greenbaypressgazette.com and find additional videos, photos and stories on the race, its participants and spectators.

For more info

Visit bellinrun.com for more information on the race.

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The 37th annual Bellin Run kicks off Saturday with a record number of participants signed up for what was originally a one-time event in 1977.

Despite the staggering increase in participants — from 881 the first year to a record number that’s nearing 19,000 this year — the Bellin Run has maintained its community feel and appeal. Runners, walkers, strollers range from kids in elementary school to senior citizens. And the money raised, $40,000 last year, is disbursed to area nonprofits. This year, some of the funds will go to the One Fund Boston for the victim’s of the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

About 70 percent of the participants take part in the Bellin Run with a family member, according to Randy Van Straten, Bellin Run executive race director. Of the nearly 19,000, about 85 percent will come from a 60-mile radius, yet almost 40 states will be represented.

Many of those from outside Wisconsin are coming back to and staying with families in the area, which makes the Bellin Run weekend a big reunion for many.

The timing and course of the race are keys to its success. The run is held the second Saturday in June. School is out and, if this year is any indication, the weather is usually decent. Or, at least it’s not oppressively hot. The course has remained virtually the same, as it takes participants through neighborhoods in Green Bay and Allouez.

The length of the race also makes it popular. Van Straten said the 10 kilometers is a distance that’s achieveable, but it’s still a challenge. Participants don’t have to start training until springtime, when they can usually get outside and run.

After a few years of flat years, participation picked up when the Bellin Run started its Kids for Running program in 2000, Van Straten said. “Once the kids train, guess what? You get the parents,” he said. So area children started training after school. They in turn got their parents involved. And pretty soon the whole family was taking part. After that came the Corporate Challenge, the High School Challenge, neighborhood training groups, the My Team Triumph, all of which expanded the field.

If you add in the volunteers, the sponsors, the community groups and that homeowner at the end of the driveway spraying cool water on runners, there will easily be more than 20,000 people taking part in Saturday’s run.

That’s an amazing accomplishment for a run that was supposed to be a one-and-done event.

So if you’re part of this weekend’s activities, have fun, be safe and continue the great tradition that has become the Bellin Run.